Job Description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit   

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The New York Legal Policy (NYLP) department is seeking a Jail Diversion Specialist to work with the Jail Population Review Program to identify incarcerated individuals who might be eligible for pretrial release and alternative to incarceration programming. Reporting to the Senior Legal Policy Advisor, the Jail Diversion Specialist will be responsible for supporting and coordinating the logistics necessary to explore Alternative to Detention (ATD) and Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) options for individuals currently incarcerated at Rikers Island.

The Jail Diversion Specialist will work with stakeholders, including judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, special jurisdiction courts, ATI programs, Correctional Health Services, and the Department of Correction. This role involves navigating and constructively engaging with differing and, at times, competing stakeholder perspectives. This role presents a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative systemic reform initiative.

• Support the Legal Policy Advisors with outreach to defense attorneys and collection of relevant information needed to evaluate cases for rapid diversion and case resolution;
• Coordinate and collaborate with Correctional Health Services, including, but not limited to, requesting weekly screenings, and submitting records requests;
• Organize and consolidate behavioral health information into master tracking list;
• Manage internal case tracking system, including initial case entry, subsequent case updates and case closure;
• Assist with troubleshooting operational, procedural, and administrative challenges as they arise to advance the clinical review process simultaneously with the legal process and reduce delays in jail diversion;
• Coordinate and collaborate with treatment court parts and community-based service providers throughout New York City;
• Identify appropriate community-based services and initiate referrals for incarcerated individuals, as needed;
• Collaborate with consulting psychologists, as needed;
• Develop and revise materials for presentations given to court stakeholders, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges, and other relevant parties;
• Contribute to regular NYLP team meetings, as well as participate in Center-wide staff meetings and trainings, as scheduled;
• Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support the Jail Population Review initiative;
• Assist the NYLP Team with the refinement of current processes and the development and implementation of new initiatives; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

• Bachelor' degree and at least 1-2 years of experience working in social service and/or criminal justice settings;
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively with a variety of court personnel and partner agencies;
• Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health issues, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, and/or homelessness is a plus strongly preferred;
• Ability to manage competing demands and prioritize accordingly based on information presented to them;
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal legal system and its impacts on communities preferred;
• Must be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a highly interdependent, multi-disciplinary team within a fast-paced and dynamic work environment;
• Excellent organization and time management skills; and
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location:  Midtown, Manhattan. Hybrid role with a requirement to be on-site 2-3 days a week. 

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $55,410 - $65,500 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center does not sponsor or support any immigration status, which includes supporting or completing any foreign student training plan. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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